CN104813748B - Focused particle beam - Google Patents

Abstract

A kind of exemplary particle accelerator includes the following: particle is in the resonant cavity wherein accelerated, wherein the resonant cavity has background magnetic field, and the background magnetic field has first shape；And the extraction channel for receiving the particle exported from the resonant cavity.The extraction channel includes a series of focal zone to focus the line of received particle.At least one described focal zone is constructed to that the shape of the background magnetic field is changed the concentrating element to the second shape in the presence of magnetic field gradient, second shape and first shape are substantially opposite, and the magnetic field gradient is that the reduction by background magnetic field from the resonant cavity to extraction channel generates.

Description

Focused particle beam

The cross reference of related application

The priority for the U.S.Provisional Application No 61/707,704 for requiring September in 2012 to submit for 28th hereby.The U.S. faces When application numbers 61/707,704 content be incorporated by reference into the disclosure.

Technical field

The present disclosure generally relates to the focused particle beams in the extraction channel of particle accelerator (extraction channel).

Background technique

Particle therapy system generates the ailing particle beams for treating such as tumour using particle accelerator.It is operating In, the particle beams accelerates in the cavity inside of particle accelerator, and is left from cavity by extraction channel.The extraction channel packet Containing the various structures for focusing and being bent the particle beams.In this context, focusing includes that the shaping particle beams is specific to realize Cross sectional dimensions and/or area.Equally in this context, bending line includes deflected beam to realize specific outgoing Position and shooting angle.

Summary of the invention

A kind of exemplary particle accelerator may include the following: particle is in the resonant cavity wherein accelerated, wherein described Resonant cavity has background magnetic field, and the background magnetic field has first shape；And for receiving the particle exported from resonant cavity Extraction channel, wherein background magnetic field is at least 4 teslas or at least 6 teslas.The extraction channel includes a series of focusing Region is to focus the line of received particle.At least one described focal zone is constructed to will back in the presence of magnetic field gradient The shape in scape magnetic field changes the concentrating element to the second shape, and second shape and first shape are substantially opposite, the magnetic field Gradient is that the reduction by background magnetic field from resonant cavity to extraction channel generates.Or either alone or in combination, this example Property particle accelerator may include one or more following characteristics.

The concentrating element may include ferromagnetic quadrupole (quadrupole).Each ferromagnetic quadrupole can have approximate right angle terraced The cross-sectional shape of shape, it is described trapezoidal with inclined surface.Ferromagnetic quadrupole can one it is positioned opposite on top of the other so that The inclined surface part of ferromagnetic quadrupole it is facing with each other.Concentrating element may include magnetic field damper, close to ferromagnetic quadrupole water Level land alignment, so that the inclined surface of ferromagnetic quadrupole diagonally faces the wide surface of magnetic field damper.Magnetic field damper can be Rectangular slab is configured to the magnetic fluxes that sucking surrounds, to help ferromagnetic quadrupole that background magnetic field is changed into the second shape (example Such as, facilitate to change into background magnetic field into the second shape).

Extraction channel may include that one or more fields increase element comprising two magnetic field adders.Magnetic field adder It may include perpendicular alignmnet and a rectangular slab parallel to each other on top of the other, so that the wide table of a magnetic field adder Face faces the wide surface of another magnetic field adder.

Extraction channel may include the one or more fields reduction element for being such as magnetic field damper.The magnetic field damper It can be horizontal aligument close to each other and each other rectangular slab of flat shape, so that the wide surface of a magnetic field damper is in face of another The wide surface of magnetic field damper.

Focal zone is arranged such that about 1/6 pressure of each focal zone in axially or radially plane completely to focus The line of the received particle of contracting.At least one described focal zone is to focus space.Focus space have with background magnetic field the The substantially similar magnetic field shape of one shape.The sequence of the focal zone may be arranged such that concentrating element and focusing space are mutual It alternates.

A kind of exemplary Proton therapy system includes aforementioned particles accelerator, wherein the particle includes proton；And institute State particle accelerator rack mounted thereto.Rack is rotatable relative to the position of patient.Proton is substantially immediately The position of patient is output to from synchrocyclotron.

In one example, the particle accelerator is variable energy particle accelerator, and the grain exported from resonant cavity Son can have the energy in energy range.Concentrating element may be structured to provide the focusing in the energy range.It is poly- Burnt element may be constructed such that offer specific to from a kind of received focusing of particle energy of resonant cavity.One or more magnetic pads Piece can be based on removable relative to concentrating element from the received particle energy of resonant cavity.Concentrating element may include one or more A coil.One or more of coils may be constructed such that by based on the electric current from the received particle energy of resonant cavity.

A kind of exemplary particle accelerator includes the following contents: the coil that resonant cavity is arrived in magnetic field is provided, so that resonant cavity tool Have powerful connections magnetic field, and the background magnetic field has first shape；Particle source of the offer plasma column to resonant cavity；Radio frequency is provided (RF) voltage accelerates the voltage source of the particle from plasma column to resonant cavity, wherein the magnetic field makes from plasma The particle that column accelerates moves on resonant cavity inner orbit；Include the outer of the extraction channel for receiving the particle exported from resonant cavity Shell.The extraction channel includes a series of focal zone to focus the line of received particle.At least one focal zone is It is configured to that the shape of background magnetic field is changed the concentrating element to the second shape, second shape in the presence of magnetic field gradient Substantially opposite with first shape, the magnetic field gradient is that the reduction by background magnetic field from resonant cavity to extraction channel generates.Institute Stating concentrating element includes ferromagnetic quadrupole.Each ferromagnetic quadrupole has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape of approximate right angle, and described trapezoidal have Inclined surface.Ferromagnetic quadrupole one is positioned opposite on top of the other, so that the inclined surface of ferromagnetic quadrupole is at least partly It is facing with each other.This exemplary particle accelerator may include magnetic field damper.The magnetic field damper is horizontal close to ferromagnetic quadrupole Ground alignment, so that the inclined surface of ferromagnetic quadrupole diagonally faces the wide surface of magnetic field damper.

The two or more features described in the disclosure, including described in this overview section those, can be by Combination is to form the embodiment not specifically described herein.

The control of various systems described herein or part thereof can be via the computer program product realization for including instruction, institute It states instruction to be stored in one or more non-transitory machine readable storage mediums, and can be held in one or more processing equipments Row.System as described herein or part thereof may be implemented as a kind of device, method or electronic system, and the electronic system can To include one or more processing equipments and storage executable instruction to implement the memory of the control of the function.

The details of one or more embodiments is set forth in attached drawing and following explanation.Other features, purposes and advantages from It will be apparent in the description and the appended drawings and from claims.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 is a kind of perspective view of exemplary treatment system.

Fig. 2 is a kind of decomposition perspective view of the component of example synchronization cyclotron.

Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are a kind of viewgraph of cross-section of example synchronization cyclotron.

Fig. 6 is a kind of perspective view of example synchronization cyclotron.

Fig. 7 is a kind of viewgraph of cross-section of a part of exemplary reverse bobbin and winding.

Fig. 8 is a kind of viewgraph of cross-section of exemplary channel inner cable composite conductor.

Fig. 9 is a kind of viewgraph of cross-section of exemplary ion source.

Figure 10 is the perspective view of a kind of exemplary D-shaped plate and example virtual D-shaped plate.

Figure 11 is a kind of perspective view of exemplary cave room.

Figure 12 is a kind of perspective view of exemplary treatment room for having cave room.

Figure 13 shows the patient close to exemplary particle accelerator.

Figure 14 shows the patient for being placed in and treating in indoor exemplary interior rack.

Figure 15 is a kind of top view of exemplary extraction channel for accelerating cavity and having multiple focal zones.

Figure 16 is the cross section together with the sample portion of the cryostat of superconducting magnet, show magnetic field strength with The curve graph of the relationship of radial distance away from plasma column.

Figure 17 is a part of a kind of example synchronization cyclotron and by two superconducting coil reasons for its use magnetic fields Magnetic field line viewgraph of cross-section.

Figure 18 is the front view of the exemplary particle track in cavity.

Figure 19 A is a kind of viewgraph of cross-section of exemplary focus element.

Figure 19 B is a kind of viewgraph of cross-section of a part of example synchronization cyclotron, about the cavity and Extraction channel shows the exemplary focus element of Figure 19 A.

Figure 20 A is the side view for being focused the particle beams that space axially focuses.

Figure 20 B is the side view for being brought out the particle beams of sample portion focusing in channel.

Figure 21 shows the particle beams focused by cavity and extraction channel.

Figure 22 is a kind of viewgraph of cross-section of exemplary field reduction element.

Figure 23 is a kind of viewgraph of cross-section of exemplary field increase element.

Figure 24 is the conceptual view that the exemplary particle treatment system of variable energy particle accelerator can be used.

Figure 25 is the exemplary curve that energy and electric current are shown for the variation in the magnetic field and distance in particle accelerator Figure.

Figure 26 be on D-shaped plate in the frequency range for each energy level of the particle beams scanning voltage, and for Change the side view of the exemplary structure of frequency range when beam energy changes.

Figure 27 is the decomposition perspective view of the exemplary magnet system used in variable energy particle accelerator.

Same reference mark in different figures indicates identical element.

Specific embodiment

It summarizes

Described herein is the example for the particle accelerator used in exemplary system, the system such as matter Son or ion therapy system.The system includes that the particle accelerator-being mounted on rack is that synchronous convolution adds in this example Fast device.As being explained in greater detail below, the rack enables accelerator to rotate around the position of patient.In some realities It applies in scheme, the rack is steel and has there are two leg that the leg is installed in the opposite side for being located at patient Two corresponding bearings on rotate.Particle accelerator is by steel truss support, and the steel truss is for the treatment where crossing over patient Region is sufficiently long, and is steadily attached to the rotation leg of rack at both ends.The knot be rotated about a patient is enclosed as rack Fruit, the particle accelerator also rotate.

In an exemplary embodiment, the particle accelerator (for example, synchrocyclotron) includes low temperature perseverance Warm device accommodates the superconducting coil for conducting the electric current for generating magnetic field (B).In this example, cryostat uses liquid Helium (He) is to maintain coil under superconducting temperature, for example, 4 ° of Kelvins (Kelvin, K).Magnetic yoke neighbouring (for example, surrounding) is low Warm thermostat, and particle is limited in the cavity wherein accelerated.Cryostat is attached to magnetic yoke by belt or the like.

In this exemplary implementation scheme, the particle accelerator includes particle source (for example, penning ion gauge The source-PIG (Penning Ion Gauge)) to provide plasma column into cavity.Hydrogen is ionized to generate plasma Column.Voltage source provides radio frequency (RF) voltage into cavity to accelerate the particle from plasma column.It is as indicated, at this In a example, particle accelerator is synchrocyclotron.Accordingly, it is considered to when from the column draw particle when on particle Relativistic effect (for example, increased mass particle), certain frequency range that the RF voltage is inswept.It is led by the magnetic field that coil generates The particle accelerated from plasma column is caused to accelerate in cavity inner orbit.Ferromagnetic devices (for example, magnetic reproducer) are positioned adjacent to sky The outside (for example, in edge of cavity) of chamber is to adjust the magnetic field existing for cavity inside, to change from plasma column The position of the continuous orbit of the particle of acceleration, so that particle final output is to the extraction channel for passing through the yoke.Extraction channel connects The particle accelerated from plasma column is received, and received particle is exported from the cavity.

In some cases, in order to provide certain types for the treatment of, the cross section of the particle beams should have certain size And/or shape.For example, particle beams cross section can be it is generally circular, and can have millimeter to centimetre magnitude on Diameter.It may if particle is not focused some particles to provide specific cross sectional dimensions and/or shape, in line Non-target tissue is hit, and the exposure dose on target may be reduced.Extraction channel may be constructed such that be applied in line At least partly focused particle beam before patient.

It focuses to be bent by magnetic field line in a region and generate.The focusing of several types, including axis can be provided To focusing and radial convergence.Axial focusing can lead to the cross-sectional shape of the particle beams in sagittal plane (for example, the water of racetrack Plane) on expand and compressed on axial plane (for example, perpendicular to vertical plane of racetrack plane).On the contrary, radial The cross-sectional shape that focusing can lead to the particle beams is compressed on sagittal plane and is expanded in an axial plane.Focusing can pass through change Magnetic field wire shaped in a region realizes that the region is referred to herein as focal zone.There are relatively large magnetic In the case where field gradient, the shape for changing magnetic field line can be difficult.

In this regard, the magnetic field in cavity is highest at center, and is reduced towards cavity edge.In particle from sky When chamber is exported and received by extraction channel, they undergo relatively large negative fluxfield gradient (for example, magnetic field strength is in short distance On relatively large reduction).For example, particle is at 10 to 15 centimetres, (track that wherein, the distance is perpendicular to particle is measured ) distance on can undergo more than 8 teslas magnetic field reduction.

In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic quadrupole of the cross-sectional shape with rectangular or square can be used to change Magnetic field line is to the suitable shape of focusing.However, in some embodiments, due to opposite from cavity center to extraction channel Biggish negative fluxfield gradient (as described above), ferromagnetic four with rectangular or square cross section shape can not most probably change magnetic Shape of the field wire to offer adequate focusing amount.Therefore, the concentrating element used in some embodiments may include having greatly The ferromagnetic quadrupole of right-angled trapezium cross-sectional shape is caused, the cross-sectional shape has an inclined surface, and the ferromagnetic quadrupole can be Change magnetic field in the presence of relatively high magnetic field gradient to magnetic field shape appropriate.

It is well known that the particle beams cannot be focused simultaneously on sagittal plane and axial plane.Therefore, multiple and different poly- Burnt region can be used to the alternately focused particle beam on sagittal plane and axial plane, to realize on two planar It is net to focus.In one example, extraction channel includes multiple focal zones.Focal zone may include that one or more focusing are empty Between and one or more concentrating element.The sky that space is usually spacious blank of focusing in High-Field synchrocyclotron Between, or it is to provide other regions of axial focusing.Magnetic field line in this focusing space corresponds to the magnetic field of background magnetic field Line, such as the magnetic field generated by superconducting coil.Concentrating element is usually to change background magnetic field to provide the structure of radial convergence, all One or more ferromagnetic quadrupoles as described above.

Usually there are two above focal zone in extraction channel, provide sequentially alternate radial and axial It focuses.It may include any an appropriate number of focal zone in extraction channel.The amount axially and/or radially focused, and focus The quantity and construction in region are that system is specific, and can be become according to the type for the treatment of and the amount and type of required focusing Change.

Aforementioned techniques for the focused particle beam in the extraction channel of particle accelerator can be individually in single particle It is used in accelerator or those of any two or more technology appropriately combined can be made as any in single particle accelerator With.Particle therapy system wherein the example of aforementioned techniques can be used to be presented below.

Exemplary particle treatment system

Referring to Fig.1, charged particle radiation treatment system 500 includes that line generates particle accelerator 502, with sufficiently small Weight and size to allow it to be installed on rotary stand 504, output from accelerator shell towards patient 506 linearly (that is, substantially immediately) orientation.

In some embodiments, there are two legs 508,510 for steel rack tool, and the leg installation is for being located at patient Opposite side on rotate on two corresponding bearings 512,514.Accelerator is supported by steel truss 516, and the steel truss is for crossing over It is sufficiently long (for example, two double-lengths of higher people, to allow the personage in sky that patient, which lies down in treatment region 518 wherein, It is interior fully to rotate, and any target region of patient is retained on the line of line), and it is steadily attached to platform at both ends The rotation leg of frame.

In some instances, the rotation of rack is limited to the range 520 less than 360 degree, for example, about 180 degree, to permit Perhaps floor 522 extends in patient's treatment zone from the wall for the cave room 524 for accommodating the treatment system.The restricted rotational movement model of rack It encloses and the required thickness of some offer walls of the radiation barrier of personage except treatment region is be provided.The rack of 180 degree rotates Range is enough for covering all treatment entry angle, but provide bigger stroke range can be it is useful.For example, Rotating range can be in 180 degree between 330 degree, and remains as treatment floor space and provide gap.

The horizontal rotating shaft 532 of rack is nominally located on floor one meter, patient and therapist there with treatment system It interacts.This floor is located on the bottom floor of therapy system shielded cave room about 3 meters.Accelerator can be on raised floor Lower swing be used under rotary shaft conveying treatment line.Hospital bed is in the horizontal plane for being arranged essentially parallel to axis of gantry rotation line Upper movement simultaneously rotates.With this construction, the bed can rotate the range 534 by about 270 degree on the horizontal level.Rack and The rotating range of patient and this combination of freedom degree allow therapist to select the substantially any entry angle for being used for line.If It needs, patient can be placed on the bed with opposite direction, then can use all possible angle.

In some embodiments, accelerator uses the synchronous convolution with the very superconducting magnetic structure of highfield to accelerate Device construction.Because the bending radius of the charged particle of given kinetic energy proportionally reduces with the increase for being applied to magnetic field thereon, Very the superconducting magnetic structure of highfield allows accelerator to can be made smaller and lighter.The magnetic field that synchrocyclotron uses exists It is uniform in rotation angle, and decline in intensity as radius increases.Such field shape can regardless of magnetic field size and It realizes, so, for can be (and therefore obtained in radii fixus in magnetic field strength used in synchrocyclotron The particle energy at place), theoretically without the upper limit.

Superconductor loses its superconducting property in the presence of very highfield.Used high performance superconducting line around Group is to allow for very high magnetic field.

In order to realize its superconducting property, superconductor, which generally requires, is cooled to low temperature.Some examples described here In, subcolling condenser is used to taking superconducting coil winding into the temperature close to absolute zero to.It can be reduced using subcolling condenser Complexity and cost.

Synchrocyclotron is supported on rack, so that line and patient directly generate in alignmently.Rack is permitted Perhaps cyclotron around horizontal rotation shaft rotation, the rotary shaft include one in the patient or close to patient point (isogonism Point is 540).The separation truss for being parallel to rotary shaft supports cyclotron on two sides.

Since the slewing area of rack is limited, patient support area can be contained in the broad regions around isocenter It is interior.Since floor can extend generally about isocenter, patient support can be positioned as relative to the vertical axis for passing through isocenter 542 movements simultaneously rotate about, so that the combination for moving and rotating by rack rotation and supporting table, may be implemented into patient times The beam direction of any angle at what position.Two gantry arms are separated with twice or more of the height of tall and big patient, allow hospital bed The rotation and translation in the horizontal plane on raised floor.

The rotation angle of limitation rack allows to reduce the thickness of at least one wall around therapeutic room.Usually by concrete The thicker wall built provides the irradiation to the people except therapeutic room and protects.In order to provide equal protection level, in downstream The wall of stopping proton beam can be the about twice thickness in the wall of room opposite end.The range of limitation rack rotation to treat Room is located under ground level on three sides, while allowing occupied area close to most thin wall, to reduce building for therapeutic room Cause this.

In exemplary implementation scheme shown in FIG. 1, superconductive synchronous cyclotron 502 is in synchrocyclotron Clearance between poles in 8.8 teslas peak field operation.Synchrocyclotron, which generates, has 250MeV (million-electron-volt) energy The proton beam of amount.In other embodiments, field strength can be in the range of 4 to 20 or 6 to 20 tesla, and proton energy It can be in the range of 150 to 300MeV.

The radiotherapy system described in this example is used for proton radiation therapy, but identical principle and details can be with Applied to the similar system used in heavy ion (ion) treatment system.

As shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the example of synchrocyclotron 10 (for example, 502 in Fig. 1) Including magnet system 12, it includes particle source 90, radiofrequency drive system 91 and line extraction systems 38.Use string pair of connecting wires annular Superconducting coil 40,42 and a pair of combination for forming ferromagnetic (for example, mild steel) pole-face 44,46, the magnetic field determined by magnet system Shape with the focusing for being suitable for maintaining included proton beam.

Two superconducting magnet coils are centered on common axis 47, and are spaced apart along the axis.Such as Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 institute Show, coil is by being deployed in the Nb being twisted in cable guide geometric configuration in channel₃Sn (three tin of niobium) base superconduction 0.8mm diameter strand 48 form (initially including the niobium-tin core surrounded by copper sheath).After seven strands form cable together, they are heated To cause the reaction for final (crisp) superconductor for forming wire rod.After material is reacted, conducting wire is soldered to copper pipe Road (3.18 × 2.54mm of external dimensions, 2.08 × 2.08mm of inside dimension) and with insulator 52 (in this example be braiding Glass fiber material) covering.Copper channel comprising wire rod 53 then wound in coil, the coil have 8.55cm × The rectangular cross section of 19.02cm, and have 49 circles with 26 layers and every layer.Then coiled coil uses epoxide Vaccum Permeating Stain.Finished product coil is installed in ring stainless steel reverse bobbin 56.Heating blanket 55 is placed on the interval of winding layers, with The component is protected in the case where magnet quenching.

Then entire coil can be covered with copper sheet to provide heat conductivity and mechanical stability, be then included in epoxy In resin extra play.Coil stainless steel reverse bobbin and can be assembled to reverse bobbin by heating by the precommpression of coil Interior offer.Reverse bobbin inner diameter is chosen to when entire object block (mass) is cooled to 4K, and reverse bobbin is kept With coil contact and provide a little compression.Coil to about 50 degrees Celsius and is fitted in 100 by heating stainless steel reverse bobbin This point may be implemented in degree Kelvin.

The geometry of coil maintains and applying restoring force 60 by being mounted in reversed rectangular lines coil 56, the recovery Power resists the generated distortion power when coil is powered.As shown in figure 5, the position of coil uses one group of heat to cold supporting part 402, it 404,406 is kept relative to magnetic yoke and cryostat.It supports cold piece to reduce with strip to be given by rigid support system Cold piece of the heat leakage.The variation gravity on coil is born when the band is arranged as rotating on rack when magnet.They Bear gravity and by coil from the position disturbance full symmetric relative to magnetic yoke when the synergy of larger eccentric force realized.Separately Outside, in some embodiments, when its position is changed, connecting rod plays reduction and is applied to line as rack accelerates and slows down The effect of dynamic force on circle.Each heat includes a S2 fiberglass links and a carbon fiber connecting rod to cold support.Carbon Fiber connecting rod bridging pin and be supported on heat yoke and medium temperature (50-70K) between, and S2 fiberglass links 408 across More it is supported in medium temperature pin with the pin for being attached to cold object.Each connecting rod is (the pin center to pin 5cm long Center), and be 17mm wide.Connecting rod is with a thickness of 9mm.Each pin is all made of high-strength stainless steel, and diameter is 40mm。

Referring to Fig. 3, the magnetic field strength section of the function as radius is largely by selecting coil geometry knot Structure and polar front shape and determination；The pole-face 44,46 of permeable conjugated material can be shaped to finely tune the shape in magnetic field, to ensure grain Beamlet keeps focusing in acceleration period.

By the way that coil block (coil and bobbin) is centered around the cyclic annular aluminium being evacuated or stainless steel cryogenic chamber 70 Within, superconducting coil is maintained at close at a temperature of absolute zero (for example, about 4 degree Kelvins), in addition in one group of limited branch Except at support point 71,73, the chamber provides the free space of coiling coil structures.In an optional version (Fig. 4), low temperature The outer wall of thermostat can be made of mild steel, to provide the additional return magnetic flux path for being used for magnetic field.

It in some embodiments, is using single-stage Ji Fude-McMahon (Gifford- close to the temperature of absolute zero McMahon) subcolling condenser and three two-stage Ji Fude-McMahon subcolling condensers are realized and are kept.Each two-stage is low Warm cooler has the second level cold end for being attached to condenser, and helium steam is re-condensed into liquid helium by the condenser.Low temperature cold But head is supplied with the compressed helium from compressor.Single-stage Ji Fude-McMahon subcolling condenser is arranged to cooling supply electricity Flow to high temperature (for example, 50-70 degree Kelvin) conducting wire of superconduction winding.

In some embodiments, close to the temperature of absolute zero by being arranged in two of the different location of coil block Lucky Ford-McMahon subcolling condenser 72,74 is realized and is maintained.Each subcolling condenser is cold with contacting with coil block End 76.Sub-cooled head 78 is supplied with the compressed helium from compressor 80.Two others Ji Fude-McMahon low temperature colds But device 77,79 is arranged to cooling high temperature (for example, 60-80 degree Kelvin) conducting wire for supplying current to superconduction winding.

Coil block and cryogenic thermostat chamber are mounted on two of (pillbox-shaped) magnetic yoke 82 of pill box shaped In half portion 81,83, and by its entirely around.In this example, the internal diameter of coil block is about 74.6cm.Iron yoke 82 provides The path of magnetic fluxes 84 is returned to, and 86 magnetics of volume between pole-face 44,46 is shielded, to prevent outer magnetic influence from disturbing The shape in magnetic field in the volume.The yoke is also used to reduce the stray magnetic field near accelerator.In some embodiments, Synchrocyclotron can have active return system, to reduce stray magnetic field.One example of active return system exists It is described in the patent application number 13/907,601 that on May 31st, 2013 submits, content is incorporated herein by reference.? In active return system, relatively large magnetic yoke described herein is replaced by the smaller magnetic texure for being referred to as pole block.Superconduction Coil runs the electric current opposite with main coil described herein, to provide magnetic return, to reduce stray magnetic field.

As shown in Figure 3 and Figure 9, synchrocyclotron includes the particle source 90 of penning ion gauge geometry, positioning Close to the geometric center 92 of magnet structure 82.The particle source can be discussed further below or particle source can be in the U.S. Type described in patent application number 11/948,662, content are incorporated herein by reference.

Particle source 90 obtains hydrogen supply 99 by the gas line 101 and pipe 194 of conveying Gaseous Hydrogen.The carrying of cable 94 comes from The electric current of current source 95 is released with excited electrons from the cathode 192,190 being aligned with magnetic field 200.

In some embodiments, the gas in flue 101 may include the mixed of hydrogen and other one or more gases Close object.For example, the mixture can contain hydrogen and one or more inert gases, for example, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and/or radon (although mixture is not limited to utilize rare gas).In some embodiments, which can be the mixing of hydrogen and helium Object.For example, the mixture contains about 75% or more hydrogen and about 25% or less helium (may include trace gas). In another example, which (can may include trace containing about 90% or more hydrogen and about 10% or less helium Measure gas).In the example shown, the hydrogen/helium mixture can be following any one:>95%/<5%,>90%/<10%,> 85%/<15%,>80%/<20%,>75%/<20%, and so on.

The advantages of being combined using inertia (or other) gas with hydrogen in particle source may include: that the line of increase is strong Degree, increased cathode life and increased line output-consistence.

In this example, the gas that the electron ionization of releasing is discharged from pipe 194 by aperture, to generate for passing through one Cation (proton) supply that a semicircle (D-shaped) rf board 100 accelerates, the rf board is across by magnet structure and a void The half in the space that quasi- D-shaped plate 102 surrounds.Interrupted particle source (its example in patent application number 11/948, Described in 662) in the case where, all (or overwhelming majority) plasmas that the pipe contains are removed in acceleration region, thus Ion is allowed more quickly to accelerate in relatively high magnetic field.

As shown in Figure 10, D-shaped plate 100 is hollow metal structure, has two semicircular surfaces for surrounding space 107 103,105, wherein proton is at them around acceleration middle during the half of the Space Rotating surrounded by magnet structure.Lead to space 107 Pipeline 109 extend through magnetic yoke to external position, vacuum pump 111 could attach to the external position to space 107 and true Its complementary space occurred is accelerated to vacuumize in plenum chamber 119.Virtual D (dummy dee) 102 includes the exposed edge close to D-shaped plate The rectangular metal ring that edge separates.Virtual D is grounded to vacuum chamber and magnetic yoke.D-shaped plate 100 in the end of radio-frequency transmission line by applying Radio frequency signals drive, to apply electric field in space 107.Distance with the particle beams of acceleration away from geometric center increases, and penetrates Frequency electric field is made with time change.Rf electric field can be by entitled " Matching A Resonant Frequency The patent application number 11/ of Of A Resonant Cavity To A Frequency Of An Input Voltage " Mode described in 948,359 controls, and content is incorporated herein by reference.

In order to avoid particle source structure when spiral is outside since the line that the particle source of centralized positioning occurs is at it, need Big voltage difference across rf board.20,000 volts apply across rf board.In some versions, from 8000 to 20,000 volt can Apply across rf board.For power needed for reducing this big voltage of driving, the magnet structure is arranged as reducing rf board Capacitor between ground.This is that have enough gaps with radio-frequency structure by passing through external yoke and the formation of cryostat shell body Hole and make there are enough spaces between the magnetic pole strength and realize.

In view of the increase of proton relativistic mass and the reduction in magnetic field, the high voltage alternating potential of D-shaped plate is driven to accelerate There is the frequency scanned downwards in period.Because it is in earth potential together with the wall of vacuum chamber, virtual D does not need hollow half Cylindrical structure.Other plates can be used to arrange, more than such as a pair with the multiple driving of different electric phase or fundamental frequency Acceleration electrode.RF structure can be tuned to keep Q higher during required frequency scanning, and the tuning is by using example Such as there is the rotary capacitor of engagement rotation and fixed blade.During each engagement of blade, capacitor increases, and thus reduces RF The resonance frequency of structure.Blade can be shaped as generating required accurate scan frequency.Driving motor for rotary condenser RF generator can be phase-locked to for accurately controlling.One bundle of particle quilt during each engagement of the blade of rotary condenser Accelerate.

Accelerate to occur in vacuum chamber 119 wherein to be substantial cylindrical container, center is relatively thin and edge is thicker.Very Plenum chamber surrounds RF plate and particle source, and is vacuumized by vacuum pump 111.Keeping high vacuum to ensure accelerates ion will not be with gas Body molecular collision and lose, and be able to maintain RF voltage in higher level, without generating arcing ground.

Proton crosses the substantially spiral orbital path for starting from particle source.At the half of each ring of spiral path, matter Son is at them by obtaining energy when RF electric field in space 107.With ions gain energy, each phase of spiral path Central orbit radius after ring is greater than the radius of first ring, until ring radius reaches the maximum radius of pole-face.At this location, electric Ion is led into the region that magnetic field is reduced rapidly by the disturbance of field and magnetic field, and then ion leaves the highfield region, and It is conducted through the fairlead 38 of referred to herein as extraction channel, to leave the yoke of cyclotron.Magnetic reproducer can by with To change disturbance of magnetic field to guide ion.Leave ion meeting at their regions significantly reduced into magnetic field of cyclotron Tend to disperse, the magnetic field is present in around cyclotron in a room.Beam shaping element in the extraction channel 38 redirect 107,109 ion is redirected, rests on them in the straight line in finite spatial extent.

Magnetic field in clearance between poles needs to have specific character so that line is maintained the chamber vacuumized in its acceleration In room.The field index n being shown below,

N=- (r/B) dB/dr

Positive number should be maintained as to maintain this " weak " focusing.Here r is beam radius and B is magnetic field.In addition, magnetic field Index needs to be maintained under 0.2, because the radial oscillation of line and vertical period of oscillation are in v in this value_r=2v_zAltogether Center of percussion is overlapped.The frequency of betatron (betatron) is by v_r=(1-n)^1/2And v_z=n^1/2It limits.Ferromagnetic pole-face design To make the magnetic forming generated by coil, so that field refers in the minimum diameter being consistent with to the 250MeV line in fixed-field Number n maintenance is positive and less than 0.2.

When line leaves extraction channel, it forms system 125 (Fig. 5) by line, can programmably be controlled To generate the combination of required angle of scattering and coverage modulation for line.Line forms system 125 can be with interior rack 601 (Figure 14) It is used in combination guiding line to patient.

During operation, as the conduction resistance along the surface of the plate as a result, plate is absorbed from the radiofrequency field applied Energy.This energy shows as heat, and is removed from plate using water cooling pipeline 108, and the pipeline discharges heat in heat exchange In device 113 (Fig. 3).

The stray magnetic field left from cyclotron is by the magnetic yoke (it also serves as shielding) of two pill box shaped and independently Magnetic screen 114 limit.Independent magnetic screen includes the ferromagnetic material (for example, steel or iron) of the yoke around the pill box shaped Layer 117 is separated by interval 116.This construction including yoke, interval and the interlayer of shielding is with lower weight for given Magnetic flux leakage realizes enough shieldings.

As mentioned, rack allows synchrocyclotron to rotate around horizontal rotation shaft 532.Truss structure 516 has Two substantially parallel ennations (spans) 580,582.Synchrocyclotron is placed between the ennation, about two Centre between a leg.Rack is balanced using the counterweight 122,124 being mounted on the end opposite with truss of leg to carry out Around the rotation of bearing.

The rack is installed on one or two leg of rack and by driving gear to be connected to bear box Motor driven and rotate.The rotation position of rack is provided from the shaft-position encoder for being integrated to gantry drive motors and driving gear Signal obtains.

The position of cyclotron is left in ion beam, line formation system 125 acts on suitable to give it on ion beam In the property of patient's treatment.For example, the line can be unfolded, and it changes deeply thoroughly to provide on entire given target volume Uniform irradiation.It may include passive dispersing element and active scan element that line, which forms system,.

Synchrocyclotron all active systems (for example, electric current driving superconducting coil, RF driving plate, be used for Vacuum accelerates particle source, hydrogen source and the cooling of RF plate of chamber and vacuum pump, electric current driving for superconducting coil cooling chamber Device) it can be controlled by synchrocyclotron controlling electronic devices (not shown) appropriate, it may include such as one or more A computer that control is realized with programming appropriate.

It rack, patient support, active beam shaping element and executes the control of synchrocyclotron of the course for the treatment of and is It is realized by treatment controlling electronic devices (not shown) appropriate.

As shown in Figure 1, Figure 11 and Figure 12, gantry bearings are supported by the wall of cyclotron cave room 524.Rack to circle round Accelerator can swing by 180 degree (or more) range 520, the range is included on patient, to its side and Position under it.Cave room is sufficiently high with extreme and bottom extremity keeps its unobstructed at the top of stage motion.With wall 148,150 entrances 146 for doing side provide the route that therapist and patient enter and exit.Because at least one wall 152 not with Directly point-blank, it can be made relatively thin and still carry out its shielding proton beam from cyclotron Function.Other three side walls 154,156,150/148 that the possibility in room needs to shield to a greater degree can be embedded in Tu Shan and (not show In out).Thickness required for wall 154,156 and 158 can reduce, because soil itself can provide some required shieldings.

2 and Figure 13 referring to Fig.1, for safety and beautiful reason, therapeutic room 160 can be built in the room of cave.Therapeutic room It overhangs from the wall 154,156,150 and substrate 162 of accommodating chamber into the space between gantry legs, passes through to make to swing rack, Also maximize the range of the floor space 164 of therapeutic room.The periodic inspection of accelerator can be in the space under raised floor It completes.When accelerator is rotated to down position on rack, acceleration is being come into full contact with from the separated space for the treatment of region Device is possible.Power supply, cooling equipment, vacuum pump and other corollary equipments can be located at raisedly in this independent space Under plate.In therapeutic room, the patient support 170 can be to allow supporting element to raise and reduce and patient allowed to rotate And the various modes for being moved to various positions and direction are installed.

In the system 602 of Figure 14, it is same in this case that the line of type described herein, which generates particle accelerator, Cyclotron 604 is walked, is installed on rotary stand 605.Rotary stand 605 is type described herein, and can Angularly to be rotated around patient support part 606.This feature enables synchrocyclotron 604 to provide from various angles Directly arrive the particle beams of patient.For example, as shown in Figure 14, if synchrocyclotron 604 patient support 606 it On, the particle beams can be downwardly oriented towards patient.Optionally, if synchrocyclotron 604 patient support 606 it Under, the particle beams can be upwardly-directed towards patient.In the sense that not needing fasciculus intermedius stream routing mechanisms, the particle beams is directly applied It is added to patient.In this context, routing mechanisms from adjustment shape or size mechanism it is different be not be adjustment shape or The mechanism of size does not route line again, but is to adjust the size of line while the identical overall track for keeping line And/or shape.

The other details of exemplary implementation scheme about above system can be submitted and be inscribed on November 16th, 2006 For " " Charged Particle Radiation Therapy " US patent number 7,728,311 in find, Yi Ji It is found in the patent application number 12/275,103 of submission on November 20th, 2008 and entitled " " Inner Gantry ". The content of US patent number 7,728,311 and patent application number 12/275,103 is incorporated by reference into the disclosure.? In some embodiments, synchrocyclotron can be variable energy equipment, such as below and mentioned on June 12nd, 2013 The patent application number 13/916 of friendship, described in 401, content is incorporated herein by reference.

Exemplary implementation scheme

Figure 15 show particle wherein track accelerate (for example, on track spiraling outward) cavity 700 a part Top view.Particle source 701, example is as described above, is arranged near cavity center.Charged particle (for example, proton or from Son) it is drawn from the plasma column generated by particle source 701.Charged particle is towards magnetic field regenerator 702 in orbit to additional Speed, and eventually arrive at the magnetic field regenerator 702.In this exemplary implementation scheme, regenerator 702 be by such as steel, iron or Ferromagnetic structure made of the ferromagnetic material of any other type.Regenerator 702 changes the background magnetic for causing outside track to accelerate ?.In this example, regenerator 702 enhances the magnetic field (for example, it provides the protrusion in the field).In background magnetic field Protrusion influence racetrack in a manner of causing track to move out towards extraction channel 703.Finally, track enters extraction In channel 703, they leave therefrom.Extraction channel 703 may include one or more focal zone 751-760, including be used for One or more concentrating elements (for example, 711 in Figure 19 A) of focused particle and one or more spaces that focus are (for example, figure 713 in 20A), to obtain the particle beams of appropriate size and/or shape.

More specifically, particle beams track is close to regenerator 702 and interacts therewith.It is increased as magnetic field as a result, institute State the particle beams turn to there it is slightly more, instead of circle, its precession to extraction channel 703.Figure 16 is shown about half The magnetic field (B) of diameter (r) mapping, the radius is the radius relative to the particle source 701.Figure 16 is also shown relative to coil The magnetic chart of the cross section 707 of frame 706, the bobbin 706 have the extraction channel between two superconducting coils 709,710 703.As shown in figure 16, in this example, B changes to about -2T from about 9 teslas (Tesla, T).9T appears in cavity 700 Immediate vicinity.The polarity in magnetic field changes after superconducting coil is crossed in magnetic field, leads to about -2T in coil outer, finally drops to About zero.Magnetic field protrusion 705 is present in the position of regenerator.After the magnetic field protrusion 705 as caused by regenerator, there is phase To biggish negative fluxfield gradient (for example, the magnetic field strength in cavity 700 is drastically declined as the function of radius).Such as Figure 16 Shown, in this example, B drops in the span (from r=30cm to r=50cm) of about 20cm from about 9 teslas (Tesla, T) As low as about 0T.Therefore, magnetic field strength is relatively large when the particle beams enters extraction channel 703, and in the particle beams by coil It is relatively small when radial midpoint.

In some cases, in order to provide certain types for the treatment of, the cross section of the particle beams should have certain size And/or shape.For example, particle beams cross section can be it is generally circular, and can have millimeter to centimetre magnitude on Diameter.Extraction channel 703, which may be constructed such that, is applied to the particle beams described in the prefocusing of patient in the particle beams, suitable to obtain When the particle beams of size and/or shape.

Figure 17 is a kind of example synchronization convolution with the extraction channel 703 between two superconducting coils 709,710 The viewgraph of cross-section of accelerator.The shape of the instruction background magnetic field of background magnetic field line 712.As passed through shown in background magnetic field line 712, Background magnetic field in cavity 700, such as the magnetic field generated by superconducting coil, can have curved shape.In some embodiment party In case, magnetic field line 712 is more sharp bent outwardly near coil 709,710.As being explained in detail below, magnetic field Curved shape can cause the axial focusing of the particle beams.The bending of magnetic field line 712 is more violent, and the focusing capability that magnetic field provides is more.

Figure 18 shows the front view of the exemplary particle track in cavity 700, and the track leaves, and entering should The page.In Figure 18, synchrocyclotron and cavity 700 are not shown, and although same magnetic shown in Figure 17 may be present , merely illustrate two magnetic field lines 712.In the plane perpendicular to paper, particle is accelerated outward and to external spiral It is run on track.The particle beams has the cross section shown at 716 the two of first position 714 and the second position, radially flat Expanded on face (for example, horizontal plane of racetrack) and in axial plane (for example, perpendicular to the vertical flat of racetrack plane Face) on compress.As being explained in detail below, the particle beams is substantially axially focused.

When particle orbits, background magnetic field prevents Particle diffusion when propagating in their trajectories.Pass through background Background magnetic field shape shown in the magnetic line of force 712 also leads to the axial focusing (for example, weak focus) of the particle beams.In the track runtime Between, particle can deviate from their orbital path in an axial plane.It is by power (F) of the induction of magnetic field 718 on particle:

F=qv × B.

Here, F is consequently exerted at the power on particle, and q is the charge of particle, and v is the speed of particle, and B is magnetic field.F,v It is vector with B.The vector product relationship of these variables causes particle to compress in an axial plane.

In order to obtain the particle beams of appropriate size and/or shape in the exit of extraction channel, radial convergence can be with axis It is used in combination to focusing.The cross-sectional shape that radial convergence may cause the particle beams compresses on sagittal plane and in axial plane Upper expansion.Referring back to Figure 15, extraction channel 703 may include one or more concentrating elements 711 with focused particle beam.As led to Cross what background magnetic field line (712 in Figure 17) was shown, concentrating element 711 can by change magnetic field make it with background magnetic field Substantially opposite side is bent upwards and provides radial convergence.

Figure 19 A is a kind of viewgraph of cross-section of exemplary focus element 711.Concentrating element 711 includes ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 (for example, two ferromagnetic quadrupoles 728) and magnetic field damper 730.In this exemplary implementation scheme, ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 1 It is positioned opposite on top of the other.The magnetic field damper 730 is close to ferromagnetic 728 horizontal aligument of quadrupole.It is worth noting that, It is also possible, however, to use the other types of focusing of the ferromagnetic quadrupole with other types of ferromagnetic quadrupole and/or other constructions Element.

As by the way that shown in ferromagnetic quadripolar magnetic field line 732, ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 changes magnetic field so that the magnetic field with back The substantially opposite side in scape magnetic field is bent upwards.As shown in the magnetic field line 734 by magnetic field damper, magnetic field damper 730 is inhaled The magnetic field the magnetic fluxes damper 730 for entering surrounding helps ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 to change magnetic field to proper shape.Background magnetic field quilt The net result that ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 and magnetic field damper 730 change is curved poly- on the direction substantially opposite with background magnetic field Burnt element magnetic field shape.

As explained above, the trapezoidal cross-sectional shape of the approximate right angle of ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 can help ferromagnetic level Four 728 remold the shape of background magnetic field in the presence of relatively large magnetic field gradient, and still leave hole without hindrance enough It is passed through for the particle beams.In some instances, each ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 has inclined surface.Ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 is arranged as making It is with obtaining the inclined surface part of the ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 facing with each other.Magnetic field damper 730 close to ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 horizontally Alignment, so that the inclined surface of ferromagnetism quadrupole 728 diagonally faces the wide surface of magnetic field damper 730.Magnetic flux line is vertically Leave the surface of ferromagnetic material.The inclined surface boots up magnetic in the side that ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 can be helped to change magnetic field shape Field wire allows it to fully radial convergence line.

Magnetic field damper 730 prevents the magnetic field shape of concentrating element to be bent upwards too in the side opposite with background magnetic field It is more.Magnetic field damper 730 can be rectangular slab as shown in the figure, attract magnetic flux to prevent mistake of the magnetic field between ferromagnetic quadrupole Degree extends.

Ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 can be made of ferromagnetic material, such as iron or steel (although instead of steel, or besides steel, it can also To use other materials).Magnetic field damper 730 can also by with similar and different ferromagnetic of material that ferromagnetic quadrupole 728 is made Material is made.

Figure 19 B shows exemplary focus element 711 about the cavity 700 and extraction channel 703.In this example In, particle 738 accelerates towards extraction channel 703 outward in orbit.Finally, the track enters extraction channel 703.It draws Channel 703 includes exemplary focus element 711.It is basic with background magnetic field to be formed in that exemplary focus element 711 changes magnetic field Curved concentrating element magnetic field shape on opposite direction is shown by concentrating element magnetic field line 736.Exemplary focus element 711 can radially focus the particle and in sagittal plane compressed particles beam and extending the particle beams in an axial plane Beam.

As described above, the particle beams cannot focus on both sagittal plane and axial plane simultaneously.For example, working as particle beams quilt When compressing on sagittal plane, it is expanded in an axial plane, and vice versa.Therefore, one or more focal zones can be by For the alternately focused particle beam on sagittal plane and axial plane, there is appropriate size and/or shape until focusing to generate only The particle beams of shape.

In one example, extraction channel 703 includes multiple focal zones.The focal zone may include one or more A focusing space 713 and one or more concentrating elements 711 (for example, Figure 20 A and Figure 20 B).In some embodiments, respectively Focusing space 713 is usually the white space that the particle beams passes through traveling.Focusing space 713 can have corresponding to background magnetic field Shape magnetic field shape, the background magnetic field for example by superconducting coil generate magnetic field.As shown in figure 18, space 713 is focused It can axially focus.

In one example, the extraction channel 703 contains at least ten focal zones, although any an appropriate number of poly- Burnt region may include in extraction channel 703.Focal zone in extraction channel 703 can focus space 713 and focus Between element 711 alternately.Multiple focal zones and alternating type (shape with alternating fields) can play and inhibit the particle beams horizontal The undesirable effect axially or radially expanded of cross sectional shape, to focus the grain when the particle beams is by extraction channel 703 Beamlet.

In one example, the plane that each focal zone is configured to focus on it at it is (for example, for focusing space 713 are axial planes and are sagittal planes for concentrating element 711) on about 1/6 compressed particles beam completely to focus.This is logical Cross realization at about 1/6 position for being placed on next focal zone in the sequence and completely focusing.Complete focus can be with It is to start to become the point before over-focusing (for example, amplification) in respective planes in line just.More simply, focal zone It will not compressed particles beam be more than usually about the 1/6 of its diameter in given plane, because in that, the line enters Next opposite focal zone (for example, concentrating element or focusing space).For example, the focal zone of axial focusing will not reduce grain The axial diameter of beamlet is more than about the 1/6 of its axial diameter.Equally, the focal zone of radial convergence will not reduce the diameter of the particle beams To about 1/6 that diameter is more than its radial diameter.

For example, Figure 20 A shows the particle beams focused on axial plane (for example, by focusing space 713).In this example In son, focuses space 713 and be configured in an axial plane about 1/6 focused particle beam completely to focus.When the particle beams leaves When focusing space 713, enter compared to it possessed when focusing space 713, it has smaller axial diameter and bigger diameter To diameter.In this respect, the complete focus point 741 on axial plane is that the particle beams again can not be more accurate on the specific plane The point that ground focuses.Once reaching complete focus point 741, additional focusing causes the particle beams to amplify on specific plane.For big Majority treatment, it is over-focusing usually undesirable, because it can cause particle beams cross-sectional shape to be not intended to expand.At this In a example, completely focused by arranging that focal zone is compressed to the particle beams in the output of each focal zone About 1/6, the particle beams is lowered by over-focusing risk (as by shown in exemplary over-focusing line 742).

In one example, with reference to Figure 20 B, just the particle beams from Figure 20 A leave focus space 713 after, it into Enter concentrating element 711.Concentrating element 711 is configured to and placing another focal zone in 1/6 focal spot radially flat About 1/6 focused particle beam on face completely to focus.In other embodiments, the focusing level different from 1/6 can be used. When the particle beams leaves concentrating element 711, possessed when entering concentrating element 711 compared to it, it has bigger axial straight Diameter and smaller radial diameter.However, it is small when the axial diameter of the particle beams is than its entrance focusing space 713, and the particle beams Radial diameter than it enter focus space 713 when it is big.That is, the particle beams in this example passes through at it and focuses sky Between 713 and 711 the two of concentrating element after there is more round cross-sectional shape.Final result be have more suitable size and/ Or the particle beams of shape.The sample portion of extraction channel 703 shown in Figure 20 B only includes two focal zones, but institute as above It states, can be comprising multiple focal zones appropriate and often desired.

Referring back to Figure 15, exemplary extraction channel 703 includes multiple focal zone 751-760.Figure 21, which is shown, to be schemed The exemplary particle beam that 15 cavity 700 and focal zone focuses.In this example, there is substantially circular cross section shape The focusing line of shape is suitable.For purposes of illustration only, exemplary extraction channel 703 is conceptualized as (un-flexed) construction of straight line. As explained above, the shape of the background magnetic field in cavity 700 axially focused particle beam.In the particle beams from cavity 700 When being output to extraction channel 703, it is by fully axial focusing.

The first focal zone in extraction channel 703 is concentrating element 751.The radially focused particle of concentrating element 751 Beam.When the particle beams leaves concentrating element 751, it has slightly larger axial diameter and slightly smaller radial diameter.The particle beams is then Into the focusing space 752 of axially focused particle beam.When the particle beams, which leaves, focuses space 752, it has slightly smaller axial direction Diameter and slightly larger radial diameter.However, big, and particle when the axial diameter of the particle beams enters concentrating element 751 than it The radial diameter of beam than it enter concentrating element 751 when it is small.That is, the particle beams in this example is passed through at it and is focused There is more round cross-sectional shape after element 751 and focusing 752 the two of space.

The radially focused particle beam of concentrating element 753.When the particle beams leaves concentrating element 753, it has slightly larger axis To diameter and slightly smaller radial diameter.The axial diameter of the particle beams is big when leaving concentrating element 751 than it, and the particle beams Radial diameter is small when leaving concentrating element 751 than it.Focus the axially focused particle beam of space 754.When the particle beams leaves focusing When space 754, it has slightly smaller axial diameter and slightly larger radial diameter.However, the axial diameter of the particle beams is than it It is big when into concentrating element 753, and when radial diameter of the particle beams enters concentrating element 753 than it, is small.That is, at this The particle beams in example has more round cross-sectional shape after it passes through concentrating element 753 and focusing space 754.

When this alternating focuses on focal zone 755,756,757,758,759 and 760 of the particle beams across alternating type Continue, with the particle beams, diameter about 1/6 focuses the particle beams to each focal zone on this plane in given plane.At this In a example, during being advanced by extraction channel 703, particle beams experience assigns its more circular cross-sectional shape It is net to focus.

The amount axially and/or radially focused is that system is specific.In one example, the magnetic field generated by superconducting coil Size may need axial focusings more more than radial convergence (for example, from concentrating element 711) (for example, from space 713 is focused), To obtain the particle beams of appropriate size and/or shape.In another example, the size in the magnetic field generated by superconducting coil may need Radial convergences more more than axial focusing, to obtain the particle beams of appropriate size and/or shape.What constitutes appropriate size And/or the particle beams of shape may depend on the system and treatment type.In one example, with generally circular cross section The particle beams can be appropriate.In another example, there is the grain of the oval cross section elongated in axially or radially plane Beamlet can be appropriate.In another example, the cross section of the particle beams is relatively large (for example, cm²Magnitude) can be it is suitable When.In another example, the cross section of the particle beams is relatively small (for example, mm²Magnitude) can be it is appropriate.

The quantity and construction of focal zone are that system is specific, and can be varied to provide the poly- of any appropriate type It is burnt.In one example, appropriate with being more than/can be less than ten focal zones.In another example, space is being focused Focal zone may be unsuitable by replacing between 713 and concentrating element 711.The right quantity and construction of focal zone can With the type dependent on treatment.

The extraction channel, which may include one or more fields, reduces element 770.Figure 22 is that an exemplary field reduces member The viewgraph of cross-section of part 770.It includes two magnetic field dampers 730 that field, which reduces element 770,.The magnetic field damper 730 is close to that This horizontal aligument is simultaneously parallel to each other, so that the wide surface of a magnetic field damper 730 faces the width of another magnetic field damper 730 Surface.

In some instances, the magnetic field reduced in extraction channel 703 may be appropriate.Magnetic field may need to be dropped It is low, to keep the track of the particle beams placed in the middle in extraction channel 703.As shown in reducing the magnetic field line 774 of element by field, field Reduce the path that element 770 can attract magnetic fluxes to leave the particle beams.

The extraction channel can also increase element 780 comprising one or more fields.Figure 23 is that an exemplary field increases member The viewgraph of cross-section of part 780.It includes two magnetic field adders 782 that field, which increases element 780,.The magnetic field adder 782 1 exists Another Shangdi perpendicular alignmnet is simultaneously parallel to each other, so that the wide surface of a magnetic field adder 782 is added in face of another magnetic field The wide surface of device 782.

In some instances, the magnetic field increased in extraction channel 703 may be appropriate.Magnetic field may need to be increased Add, to keep the track of the particle beams placed in the middle in extraction channel 703.As shown in increasing the magnetic field line 784 of element by field, field Increasing element 780 can shift magnetic fluxes in the path of the particle beams onto.In some embodiments, magnetic field the particle beams from Extraction channel, which positions away from, can nearby increase or decrease.Whether this is that amount that is required and/or increasing or decreasing is usually System is specific.

Variable energy particle accelerator

The particle accelerator used in examples described herein particle therapy system can be variable energy particle Accelerator.

The energy for the particle beams (particle beams exported from accelerator) drawn may will affect the particle beams during treatment Purposes.In some machines, the energy of the particle beams (particle in the particle beams) not will increase after tapping.However, energy Can based on treatment need to treat after tapping before be reduced.Referring to Figure 24, exemplary treatment system 910 includes accelerating Device 912, such as synchrocyclotron, with variable energy particle (for example, proton) beam 914 from be wherein brought out with irradiate The target volume 924 of body 922.Optionally, one or more optional equipments, such as scanning element 916 or scattering unit 916, one A or multiple monitoring unit 918 and degrader 920 are placed along direction of illumination 928.Equipment interception institute's educt beaming flow 914 Cross section, and change institute's educt beaming flow for treatment one or more properties.

Three-dimensional construction is usually had for the target volume (irradiation target) for the treatment of by particle beam irradiation.In some instances, In order to be treated, target volume is divided stratification along the direction of illumination of the particle beams, so that irradiation can be in layer On the basis of carry out.For certain form of particle, such as proton, the saturating depth (or layer of line arrival) in target volume is in very great Cheng It is determined on degree by the energy of the particle beams.The particle beams of given energy will not substantially be more than the corresponding depth of the energy.In order to by grain Beamlet, which is irradiated from one layer of target volume, is moved to another layer, and the energy of the particle beams is changed.

In the example shown in Figure 24, target volume 924 is divided into nine layer 926a-926i along direction of illumination 928.At one In example process, irradiates since bottommost layer 926i, one layer every time, gradually arrive shallower layer, and end at most shallow layer 926a.Before being applied to body 922, the energy of the particle beams 914 is controlled in certain level, to allow the particle beams to stop at Desired layer, such as the layer 926d, and will not substantially be penetrated in vivo or in target volume it is farther, for example, layer 926e- 926i deeper enters internal.In some instances, the required energy of the particle beams 914 is as treatment layer is relative to particle acceleration Device becomes more shallow and reduces.In some instances, depending on the thickness of such as layer and the property of line, for treating target volume The beam energy difference of 924 adjacent layer is about 3MeV to about 100MeV, for example, about 10MeV to about 80MeV, although other differences It is also possible.

Energy variation for treating the different layers of target volume 924 can carry out in accelerator 912 (for example, accelerator Can change energy) so that in some embodiments, after the particle beams is drawn from accelerator 912, without additional energy Amount variation.Therefore, the optional degrader 920 in treatment system 10 can be removed from system.In some embodiments, add Fast device 912 can be exported with the particle beams in about 100MeV to the energy changed between about 300MeV, such as in about 115MeV Change between about 250MeV.It is described variation can be it is continuous or discontinuous, for example, every time a step.In some embodiment party In case, continuous or discontinuous variation can be occurred with relatively high rate, for example, about 50MeV up to per second or up to per second About 20MeV.Discontinuous variation can be occurred every time a step with the step-length of about 10MeV to about 90MeV.

After the completion of being radiated at one layer, accelerator 912 can change in such as several seconds or within the time less than one second Become the energy of the particle beams for irradiating next layer.In some embodiments, the treatment of target volume 924 can be without in substance Break or interruptedly continues even without any.In some cases, the step-length of discontinuous energy variation is selected as pair It should the energy difference needed for two adjacent layers of irradiation target volume 924.For example, step-length can or energy equal with energy difference The part of difference.

In some embodiments, accelerator 912 and degrader 920 jointly change the energy of line 914.For example, plus Fast device 912 provides coarse regulation and degrader 920 provides intense adjustment, or in turn.In this example, accelerator 912 can export energy with the particle beams of the variation step change of about 10-80MeV, and degrader 920 is with the change of about 2-10MeV Change the energy of stride adjustment (for example, reduction) line.

The use of (or not having) degrader is reduced, the degrader may include range shift unit, helps to maintain and comes from The property and quality of the output line of accelerator, such as beam intensity performance.The control of the particle beams can carry out in accelerator. Side effect, such as from the neutron generated when the particle beams is by degrader 920, can be reduced or eliminated.

After completing the treatment in target volume 924, the energy of the particle beams 914 is adjustable to treatment in another body Another target volume 930 in body or body part 922 '.Target volume 924,930 can be in same body (or patient), Or it can be and belong to different patients'.Depth D of the target volume 930 from 922 ' surface of body is different from the depth of target volume 924 It is possible.Although some energy adjustings can be executed by degrader 920, the degrader 912 can only reduce beam energy Without increasing beam energy.

In this respect, in some cases, beam energy needed for treating target volume 930 is greater than treatment 924 institute of target volume The beam energy needed.In this case, after treating target volume 924 and before treating target volume 930, accelerator 912 can increase the energy of output line.In other cases, beam energy needed for treating target volume 930 is less than therapeutic target Beam energy needed for volume 924.Although degrader 920 can reduce energy, accelerator 912 is adjustable lower to export Beam energy, to reduce or eliminate the use of degrader 920.The layering of target volume 924,930 can be different or identical. And similarly with the treatment of target volume 924, target volume 930 can treat on the basis of layer is to layer.

The treatment of different target volumes 924,930 on same patient can be it is substantially continuous, for example, two volumes it Between dead time be no longer than about 30 minutes or less, such as 25 minutes or less, 20 minutes or less, 15 minutes or less, 10 minutes or less, 5 minutes or less or 1 minute or less.As will be explained herein, accelerator 912 can be installed in On moveable rack, and the movement of rack can move accelerator to aim at different target volumes.In some cases, exist The treatment of target volume 924 is completed later and before starting to treat target volume 930, accelerator 912 can be carried out in treatment system Adjust the energy adjusting that output line 914 is completed in the time of (such as movable stand).In the alignment of accelerator and target volume 930 After completion, treatment is started with the required beam energy adjusted.Beam energy adjustment for different patients can also be opposite Efficiently complete.In some instances, all adjustment, including increase/reduction beam energy and/or movable stand can be about It is completed in 30 minutes, such as in about 25 minutes, in about 20 minutes, in about 15 minutes, in about 10 minutes or in about 5 minutes.

In the identical layer of target volume, exposure dose is the entire bivariate table by using scanning element 916 in the layer Mobile line (it sometimes referred to as scans line) on face and apply.Optionally, the layer can be by making drawn beam It flows one or more scatterers (it sometimes referred to as scatters line) across scattering unit 16 and is irradiated.

The property of line, such as energy and intensity can select before treatment, or can be by controlling accelerator 912 And/or other equipment and adjust over the course for the treatment of, the other equipment such as scanning element/scatterer (multiple) 916, drop energy Device 920, and in other equipment not shown in the figure.In this exemplary implementation scheme, such as in above-mentioned example embodiment In, system 910 includes the controller 932 communicated with one or more equipment in system, such as computer.Control can be with It is based on the monitoring executed by one or more monitors 918 as a result, for example, monitoring beam intensity, dosage, line is in target volume In position etc..Although monitor 918 is shown as between equipment 916 and degrader 920, one or more monitors can be with It is placed on along other appropriate locations of line exposure pathways.Controller 932 can also be stored for one or more target volumes The treatment plan of (for identical patient and/or different patients).Treatment plan can determine before the treatment starts, and can To include the shape of target volume, the parameter for irradiating the illuminated number of the quantity of layer, the exposure dose of each layer, each layer etc.. Beam behaviour adjustment in system 910 can be carried out according to treatment plan.Additional adjustment can carry out during treatment, example Such as, when detect deviate from treatment plan when.

In some embodiments, accelerator 912 is configured to change by changing the particle beams in the magnetic field wherein accelerated Become the energy of the output particle beams.In an exemplary embodiment, one or more groups of coils receive variable electric current in sky Variable magnetic field is generated in chamber.In some instances, the fixed electric current of one group of coil reception, and the line of other one or more groups Circle receives variable electric current, so that being changed by the total current that coil group receives.In some embodiments, all groups of coil It is all superconduction.In other embodiments, such as certain group of coil of the setting for fixed current is superconduction, and such as Other groups of one or more groups of coils for variable current are non-superconductings.In some instances, all groups of coil is all Non-superconducting.

Generally, the size in magnetic field is scalable to the size of electric current.The total current of coil is adjusted within a predetermined range It can occur in changing magnetic field in corresponding preset range.In some instances, the continuous adjustment of electric current can lead to magnetic field Consecutive variations, and output beam energy consecutive variations.Optionally, when be applied to the electric current of coil by with it is discontinuous, point When the mode of step adjusts, therefore the energy of magnetic field and output line is also changed in a manner of discontinuous (substep).Magnetic field is to electric current Scaling can permit the variation of beam energy and relatively precisely carry out, although can carry out sometimes different from input current compared with Small adjustment.

In some embodiments, in order to export the particle beams with variable energy, accelerator 912 is configured to be applied to The RF voltage scanned in different frequency scope, each range correspond to different output beam energies.For example, if accelerator 912 are configured to generate three different output beam energies, and the RF voltage can be swept in three different frequency ranges It retouches.In another example, correspond to continuous beam energy to change, RF voltage scans in the frequency range continuously changed. Different frequency ranges can have different lower frequency border and/or upper frequency range.

Extraction channel may be constructed such that the range for adapting to the different-energy generated by variable energy particle accelerator.Have The particle beams of different-energy can be drawn from accelerator 912, without changing for drawing the particle beams with single energy The feature of regenerator.In other embodiments, in order to adapt to variable particle energy, regenerator can be by mobile to more than The mode of stating disturb (for example, change) different racetracks and/or iron staff (magnetic gasket) can add or remove with change by The magnetic field protrusion that regenerator provides.More specifically, different particle energies can typically be in the different racetracks in cavity On.By regenerator mobile in a manner of described herein, intercepts the racetrack of prescribed energy and therefore the track is provided Correct disturbance is so that it is possible that the particle of prescribed energy, which reaches extraction channel,.In some embodiments, the movement of regenerator (and/or addition/removal of magnetic gasket) is carried out in real time to match the real-time change on the beam energy exported by accelerator Change.In other embodiments, the energy of particle adjusts on the basis of each treatment, and movement (and/or the magnetic of regenerator Addition/removal of property gasket) it carries out before treatment.In any case, (and/or magnetic gasket adds for the movement of regenerator Add/remove) it can be controlled by computer.For example, computer can control the one of the movement for realizing regenerator and/or magnetic gasket A or multiple motors.

In some embodiments, regenerator be using to be moved to appropriate location (multiple positions) it is controllable one or What multiple magnetism gaskets were realized.

As an example, table 1 shows exemplary accelerator 912 can export three example performances of the particle beams on it Grade.Relevant parameter for generating three energy levels is also listed.In this respect, magnet current, which refers to, is applied in accelerator 912 One or more coil groups in total current；Maximum frequency and minimum frequency limit RF voltage in the range wherein scanned；With And " r " be position to particle wherein accelerated cavity center radial distance.

The example of 1. beam energy of table and corresponding parameter

The following institute of details that can be included in the exemplary particle accelerator for generating the charged particle with variable energy It states.Accelerator can be synchrocyclotron and particle can be proton.Particle is exported as pulsed beam current.From particle plus The energy of the line of fast device output can change during the treatment of the target volume of patient, or in same patient or difference Change between the treatment of the different target volumes of patient.In some embodiments, the setting of accelerator is in no line (or grain Son) change to change the energy of line when being exported from accelerator.Energy variation can be in entire expected range it is continuous or It is discontinuous.

The example with reference to shown in Fig. 1, particle accelerator (synchrocyclotron 502) can be and add similar to above-mentioned The variable energy particle accelerator of fast device 912, may be structured to the particle beams has variable energy.The range of variable energy can be with There are about 200MeV to about 300MeV or the higher upper bound, for example, 200MeV/, about 205MeV, about 210MeV, about 215MeV, about 220MeV, about 225MeV, about 230MeV, about 235MeV, about 240MeV, about 245MeV, about 250MeV, about 255MeV, about 260MeV, about 265MeV, about 270MeV, about 275MeV, about 280MeV, about 285MeV, about 290MeV, about 295MeV or about 300MeV or higher.The range also can have about 100MeV or more as low as the lower bound of about 200MeV, for example, about 100MeV or Lower, about 105MeV, about 110MeV, about 115MeV, about 120MeV, about 125MeV, about 130MeV, about 135MeV, about 140MeV, About 145MeV, about 150MeV, about 155MeV, about 160MeV, about 165MeV, about 170MeV, about 175MeV, about 180MeV, about 185MeV, about 190MeV, about 195MeV, about 200MeV.

In some instances, the variation is discontinuous, and the size that changes stride and can have is about 10MeV or more Low, about 15MeV, about 20MeV, about 25MeV, about 30MeV, about 35MeV, about 40MeV, about 45MeV, about 50MeV, about 55MeV, about 60MeV, about 65MeV, about 70MeV, about 75MeV or about 80MeV or higher.It can be spent with a step-size change energy and not surpassed 30 minutes are spent, for example, about 25 minutes or less, about 20 minutes or less, about 15 minutes or less, about 10 minutes or less, about 5 Minute or less, about 1 minute or less or about 30 seconds or less.In other examples, variation is continuous and accelerator energy Enough energy with the relatively high speed adjustment particle beams, for example, being up to about 50MeV per second, being up to about 45MeV per second, up to 40MeV about per second, be up to about 35MeV per second, be up to about 30MeV per second, be up to about 25MeV per second, be up to about 20MeV per second, It is up to about 15MeV per second or up to 10MeV about per second.Accelerator may be constructed such that not only continuously but also discontinuous adjustment grain Sub- energy.For example, continuous and discrete variation combination can use in the treatment of a target volume or in different target bodys It is used in long-pending treatment.Flexible treatment plan and flexible treatment may be implemented.

Exporting, there is the particle accelerator of the particle beams of variable energy can provide the precision on irradiation treatment, and reduce use In the quantity of the optional equipment (in addition to accelerator) for the treatment of.For example, can reduce or eliminate for changing the energy of the output particle beams Degrader use.The property of the particle beams, such as intensity, focusing etc. can be controlled at particle accelerator, and grain Beamlet can reach substance interference of the target volume without optional equipment.The relatively high change rate of beam energy can subtract Few treatment time, and allow the effective use for the treatment of system.

In some embodiments, accelerator, the synchrocyclotron 502 of such as Fig. 1, by changing in accelerator Magnetic field and particle or the particle beams are accelerated to variable energy level, the change in magnetic field can be applied to coil for generating by changing The electric current in magnetic field and realize.As shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, example synchronization cyclotron 10 is (in Fig. 1 It 502) include magnet system, it includes particle source 90, radiofrequency drive system 91 and line extraction systems 38.Figure 27 is shown can be with One example of the magnet system used in variable energy accelerator.In this exemplary implementation scheme, by magnet system 1012 magnetic fields established can change with about the 5% to about 35% of maximum value of magnetic field, and the maximum value of magnetic field is two groups of coils The maximum value of magnetic field that 40a and 40b and 42a and 42b can be generated.The magnetic field established by magnet system, which has, is adapted for use with two Group coil and a pair of combination for shaping ferromagnetic (for example, mild steel) structure maintain the shape of the focusing of contained proton beam, example It is provided above.

Every group of coil can be the string pair of connecting wires for receiving the loop coil of electric current.In some cases, two groups of coils are all Superconduction.In other cases, only one group of coil is superconduction, and another group is non-superconducting or conventional conductive (is also existed It is further described below).It is also possible that this two groups of coils are all non-superconductings.Suitable superconductor packet in coil Include niobium -3- tin (Nb₃) and/or niobium-titanium Sn.Other conventional conductive materials may include copper.The example of coil group structure below into The description of one step.

Two groups of coils can be electrically connected in series or in parallel.In some embodiments, by two groups of received total currents of coil It may include that circle is trained in about 200 Wan An training circle (turns) to about 1000 Wan An, for example, circle or about 375 is trained in about 2,500,000 to about 750 Wan An It trains circle to about 500 Wan An and trains circle in Wan An.In some instances, one group of coil is configured to receive the fixation of total variable current (or constant) part, and another group of coil is configured to receive the variable part of the total current.The total current of two groups of coils with Curent change one in one group of coil changes.In other cases, the electric current for being applied to two groups of coils can change.Two groups Total variable current in coil can produce the magnetic field with variable-size, it changes the acceleration path of the particle in turn, and Generate the particle with variable energy.

Normally, the magnetic field size generated by coil (multiple coils) is big to the total current for being applied to coil (multiple coils) Small is scalable.Based on scalability, in some embodiments, the linear change of magnetic field strength can be by linearly changing The total current of type transformer coil group and realize.Total current can lead to the opposite of magnetic field and beam energy with relatively high speed adjust The adjustment of high-speed.

In the example of above-mentioned table 1 reflection, the ratio between electric current and magnetic field value at the geometric center of coil loop is: (1990:8.7 about 228.7:1)；(1920:8.4 about 228.6:1)；(1760:7.9 about 222.8:1).Therefore, adjustment is applied to super The size of the total current of loop (multiple coils) can adjust the size in magnetic field (based on the ratio) pari passu.

Magnetic field also shows the scalability of total current in the curve graph of Figure 24 in the example of table 1, wherein BZ is edge The magnetic field of Z-direction；And R is the radial distance measured from the geometric center of coil loop along the direction perpendicular to Z-direction.Magnetic field There is peak at geometric center, and reduce with the increase of distance R.Curve 1035,1037 represents different by receiving The magnetic field that the same coil group of total current generates, the total current is 1760 amperes and 1990 amperes respectively.The particle drawn Correspondence energy be 211MeV and 250MeV respectively.Two curves 1035,1037 have essentially identical shape, and curve 1035,1037 different piece is substantially parallel.As a result, either curve 1035 or curve 1037 can linear translation To match another curve substantially, show that the magnetic field is scalable to the total current for being applied to coil group.

In some embodiments, magnetic field may be faulty to the scalability of total current.For example, being based on 1 institute of table Ratio between the calculated magnetic field of the example shown and electric current is not constant.In addition, as shown in Figure 25, curve Linear translation may not be perfectly matched another curve.In some embodiments, total current is in perfect scalability Hypothesis under be applied to coil group.Magnetic field of the goal (under the hypothesis of perfect scalability) can be by extraly changing coil Feature is generated, the feature such as geometry with offsetting the defect of scalability.As an example, ferromagnetic (for example, Iron) stick (magnetic insert) can be inserted in one or two magnetic structure, or from wherein removing.The feature of coil can be with relatively high Rate changes, so that be perfect compared to wherein scalability and only electric current needs the case where being adjusted, magnetic field adjustment Rate do not influenced substantially.In the example of iron staff, the stick can be added or be removed in the time scale of second or minute Go, for example, in 5 minutes, in 1 minute, be less than 30 seconds or less than 1 second.

In some embodiments, the setting of accelerator is such as applied to the electric current of coil group, can be based on magnetic field to line The substantive scalability of circle group total current and select.

Normally, in order to generate the total current changed in desired range, it can be used and be applied to two coil groups Any combination of electric current.In one example, coil group 42a, 42b can be configured to receive the lower bound for corresponding to magnetic field expected range Fixed current.In the example shown in table 1, the fixed current is 1760 amperes.In addition, coil group 40a, 40b can be by It is configured to receive variable current, the upper bound having corresponds to the difference between the upper bound and lower bound of magnetic field expected range.In 1 institute of table In the example shown, coil group 40a, 40b is configured to receive the electric current changed between 0 ampere and 230 amperes.

In another example, coil group 42a, 42b can be configured to receive the fixation in the upper bound for corresponding to magnetic field expected range Electric current.In the example being shown in Table 1, fixed current is 1990 amperes.In addition, coil group 40a, 40b may be constructed such that reception Variable current, the upper bound having correspond to the difference between the lower bound and the upper bound of magnetic field expected range.The example shown in table 1 In, coil group 40a, 40b is configured to receive the electric current changed between -230 amperes and 0 ampere.

Maximum greater than 4 teslas can have by total variable magnetic field for accelerated particle that total variable current generates Value, for example, be greater than 5 teslas, be greater than 6 teslas, be greater than 7 teslas, be greater than 8 teslas, be greater than 9 teslas or be greater than 10 Tesla, and 20 teslas or higher are up to about, for example, being up to about 18 teslas, being up to about 15 teslas, or up to about 12 special Si La.In some embodiments, the variation in the coil group total current can change about 0.2 tesla of magnetic field to about 4.2 teslas or more for example, changing about 0.2 tesla to about 1.4 teslas, or change about 0.6 tesla to about 4.2 spies Si La.In some cases, the variable quantity in magnetic field may be directly proportional to maximum magnitude.

Figure 26 shows exemplary RF structure, is used on D-shaped plate 100 throughout the RF frequency for each energy level of the particle beams Range scans voltage, and for changing frequency range when changing beam energy.The semicircular surface 103 of D-shaped plate 100, 105 are connected to inner conductor 1300, and are contained in outer conductor 1302.Power supply by being coupled to the power of inner conductor by high voltage Coupled apparatus 1304 and be applied to D-shaped plate 100 from power supply (be not shown, for example, oscillating voltage input).In some embodiments In, coupled apparatus 1304 is placed on inner conductor 1300 to provide from power supply to the power transmission of D-shaped plate 100.In addition, D-shaped plate 100 are coupled to variable reactive element 1306,1308 to execute RF frequency scanning to each particle energy levels, and to different particles Energy level changes RF frequency range.

Variable reactive element 1306 can be with the rotation by the rotatable multiple blades 1310 of motor (not shown) Capacitor.By engagement of the blade 1310 during each RF scan period or drop out of gear, the capacitor of radio-frequency structure changes, this is in turn Change the resonance frequency of the RF structure.In some embodiments, during the per quart period of motor, blade 1310 It is engaged with each other.The capacitor of RF structure increases and resonance frequency reduces.The process is reversed in 1310 drop out of gear of blade.As a result, It generates required for the high voltage for being applied to D-shaped plate 103 and power necessary to accelerated current can be reduced with big ratio. In some embodiments, the shape of blade 1310 is processed to form the dependence of required resonant frequency on time.

By detecting the phase of RF voltage on the resonator, keeping the alternating voltage on D-shaped plate close to the resonance of RF chamber Frequency, the generation of RF frequency are synchronous with blade rotation.(virtual D is grounded and does not show in Figure 26).

Variable reactive element 1308 can be the capacitor formed by the surface 1316 of plate 1312 and inner conductor 1300.Plate 1312 along the direction 1314 towards or away from surface 1316 be movable.The capacitor of capacitor is with plate 1312 and surface 1316 The distance between D change and change.The frequency range of a particle energy is used for for each scanning, distance D is in setting value, And in order to change frequency range, plate 1312 corresponds to the energy variation of output line and moves.

In some embodiments, inner conductor and outer conductor 1300,1302 are formed by metal material, such as copper, aluminium or silver. Blade 1310 and plate 1312 can also be by forming with the identical or different metal material of conductor 1300,1302.Coupled apparatus 1304 It can be electric conductor.Variable reactive element 1306,1308 can have other forms, and can be otherwise coupled to D Shape plate 100 is changed with executing RF frequency scanning and frequency range.In some embodiments, single variable reactive element can be by It is configured to execute the function of two variable reactive elements 1306,1308.In other embodiments, it can be used more than two Variable reactive element.

In the example using variable energy accelerator (for example, variable energy synchrocyclotron) of particle therapy system In property embodiment, one or more of focal zone 751-760, including one or more concentrating elements are (for example, scheming 711 in 19A) and one or more focuses space (for example, 713 in Figure 20 A), be constructed (for example, adjustment size, Forming can control) it is to be operated within the scope of the different particle energies generated by accelerator, the particle energy range includes above-mentioned Range.For example, in one embodiment, concentrating element is configured to can operating energy and grain in the highest of particle accelerator Sub- accelerator it is minimum can the midpoint between operating energy its optimum focusing is provided, but still mentioned at the upper bound of energy and lower bound For enough focusing.The precision architecture of concentrating element will depend on energy range.Equally, focal zone will adjust size with same Adapt to energy range.

In some embodiments, the concentrating element can be constructable, to provide not different particle energies Same quantity or type.For example, in some embodiments, magnetic gasket, which can be, may move into, remove or close to one or more A concentrating element is to control the disturbance of magnetic field provided by those one or more concentrating elements.One example of magnetic gasket is can Immigration, removal or ferrod or other structures close to concentrating element.In some embodiments, the movement of magnetic gasket can To be that computer controls, and their movement can be in response to the change of beam energy in (for example, being triggered) accelerator Change.In some embodiments, the movement of magnetic gasket can occur in real time or essentially in real time.In other embodiments In, the movement of magnetic gasket can also for example be made before with the treatment of specified particle beam energy in advance.

In some embodiments, concentrating element can be moveable (to also change relative to each other in extraction channel Become the size for focusing space).Movement can be implemented to increase or reduce the amount and quality of the focusing provided in extraction channel.? In some embodiments, movement of the concentrating element in extraction channel can be computer control, and their movement can With the variation in response to beam energy in (for example, being triggered) accelerator.In some embodiments, the movement of concentrating element It can occur in real time or essentially in real time.In other embodiments, the movement of concentrating element can also be for example with specific It is made in advance before beam energy treatment.In some embodiments, the movement of concentrating element can be with magnetic as described above Property gasket use combine.

In above-mentioned exemplary implementation scheme, the concentrating element is ferromagnetic structure.In some embodiments, including Using those of variable energy particle accelerator, the concentrating element of one or more (until all) ferromagnetic structures can be by drawing Replaced coil windings in channel.Coil windings can be superconduction or non-superconducting.Coil windings, which may be constructed such that, to be passed through The electric current of energy based on the particle accelerator, and in response to the flowing of electric current, background is had an impact in extraction channel Magnetic field and therefore generate otherwise by ferromagnetic structure generate focusing.In some embodiments, each such coil can To receive electric current from individual source, so that each coil be allowed to generate different magnetic field.In some embodiments, multiple coils can Electric current is received from shared source to be connected in series.In some embodiments, multiple coils can have different impedances, from And allows different electric currents and generate different magnetic field.

In using embodiment of one or more coils as concentrating element, as described above, passing through each coil Electric current (a variety of electric currents) can correspond to the energy (multiple kinds of energy) generated in different times by particle accelerator.Electric current is applied Adding can be controlled by computer.For example, control computer system can be identified in given time (for example, in present or future Time) the particle beams energy, and provide to energy electric current appropriate.Variation on electric current can be sent out in real time or essentially in real time The raw or described electric current can be arranged before the treatment with expected beam energy.

Any focal zone construction above-mentioned can use in the proper combinations, with the focused particle beam in extraction channel. Similarly, the single feature of any aforementioned focal zone construction can use in the proper combinations for same purpose.

The element of different embodiments as described herein can be in conjunction with to form not in other implementations being specifically described above Scheme.Element can be left out in process as described herein, system, equipment etc., generate not without the operation to them The influence of benefit.Various individual elements can be combined into the one or more individual components for executing function described herein.

Exemplary implementation scheme as described herein is not limited to for particle therapy system, or is limited to for as described herein Exemplary particle treatment system.On the contrary, exemplary implementation scheme can be in guidance accelerated particle to any appropriate system of output Middle use.

About can the particle accelerator used in system as described herein exemplary implementation scheme design it is additional Entitled " the High-Field Superconducting that information can be submitted on January 20th, 2006 The U.S.Provisional Application No 60/760,788 of Synchrocyclotron "；On August 9th, the 2006 entitled " Magnet submitted The patent application number 11/463,402 of Structure For Particle Acceleration "；October 10 in 2006 The U.S. Provisional Application of entitled " Cryogenic Vacuum Break Pneumatic Thermal Coupler " that day submits It is found in number 60/850,565, whole is incorporated herein by reference.

Application is incorporated by reference into title application below: entitled " CONTROLLING INTENSITY OF A The U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,466) of PARTICLE BEAM ", entitled " ADJUSTING ENERGY OF A The U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,515) of PARTICLE BEAM ", entitled " ADJUSTING COIL POSITION " U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,548), entitled " FOCUSING A PARTICLE BEAM USING MAGNETIC U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,572), entitled " the MAGNETIC FIELD of FIELD FLUTTER " The U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,590) of REGENERATOR ", entitled " FOCUSING A PARTICLE BEAM " The interim Shen in the U.S. of U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,704), entitled " CONTROLLING PARTICLE THERAPY " Please (application number 61/707,624), entitled " CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A PARTICLE ACCELERATOR " the U.S. face When apply (application number 61/707,645).

It is equally incorporated by reference into title application below: the US patent number 7,728 of authorization on June 1st, 2010, 311, the patent application number U.S. submitted on November 20th, 11/948,359,2008 submitted on November 30th, 2007 is special On November 30th, 12/275,103,2007 submit patent application number 11/948,662,2007 year 11 of sharp application numbers The US patent number 8,003 that 60/991,454,2011 year August of patent application number that the moon is submitted on the 30th is submitted on the 23rd, 964, the US patent number of the authorization in US patent number on July 22nd, 7,208,748,2008 of authorization on April 24th, 2007 7,402,963, the beauty submitted on November 9th, 13/148,000,2007 of the patent application number submitted for 9th for 2 months in 2010 Entitled " the A Programmable Radio that state's patent application number is submitted on July 21st, 11/937,573,2005 The patent application number 11/187 of Frequency WaveformGenerator for a Synchrocyclotron ", 633, on September 24th, the 60/590,089,2004 entitled " A submitted of the U.S.Provisional Application No submitted on July 21st, 2004 The U.S. of Programmable Particle Scatterer for Radiation Therapy Beam Formation " is special The U.S.Provisional Application No 60/590,088 that sharp application numbers 10/949,734 and on July 21st, 2005 submit.

The arbitrary characteristics of title application can be in conjunction with one or more suitable characteristics below: entitled " CONTROLLING U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,466), the entitled " ADJUSTING of INTENSITY OF A PARTICLE BEAM " U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,515), the entitled " ADJUSTING of ENERGY OF A PARTICLE BEAM " The U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,548) of COIL POSITION ", entitled " FOCUSING A PARTICLE BEAM U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,572), the entitled " " MAGNETIC of USING MAGNETIC FIELD FLUTTER " The U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,590) of FIELD REGENERATOR ", entitled " FOCUSING A PARTICLE The beauty of the U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,704) of BEAM ", entitled " CONTROLLING PARTICLE THERAPY " State's provisional application (application number 61/707,624), entitled " CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A PARTICLE ACCELERATOR " U.S. Provisional Application (application number 61/707,645), on June 1st, 2010 authorization US patent number 7,728,311,2007 The U.S. Patent application that the patent application number submitted on November 30, is submitted on November 20th, 11/948,359,2008 is compiled The patent application number submitted in number on November 30th, 12/275,103,2007 is mentioned on November 30th, 11/948,662,2007 Patent application number 13/907,601 that the U.S.Provisional Application No of friendship is submitted on May 31st, 60/991,454,2013, The US patent number of authorization in the patent application number submitted on June 12nd, 2013 on August 23rd, 13/916,401,2011 8,003,964, the U.S. of the authorization in US patent number on July 22nd, 7,208,748,2008 of authorization on April 24th, 2007 is special Sharp 7,402,963,2010 years patent application numbers submitted for 9th for 2 months of number are mentioned on November 9th, 13/148,000,2007 Entitled " the A Programmable Radio that the patent application number of friendship is submitted on July 21st, 11/937,573,2005 The patent application number 11/187 of Frequency Waveform Generator for a Synchrocyclotron ", 633, on September 24th, the 60/590,089,2004 entitled " A submitted of the U.S.Provisional Application No submitted on July 21st, 2004 The U.S. of Programmable Particle Scatterer for Radiation Therapy Beam Formation " is special The U.S.Provisional Application No 60/590,088 that sharp application numbers 10/949,734 and on July 21st, 2005 submit.

In addition to the provisional application of patent application claims priority and the file by being incorporated by above, without it He is incorporated by reference into present patent application file.

Other embodiments not specifically described herein are also within the scope of following the claims.

Claims (16)

1. a kind of particle accelerator, comprising:

For particle in the resonant cavity wherein accelerated, the resonant cavity has background magnetic field, and the background magnetic field has shape, the back Scape magnetic field is at least 6 teslas；And

For receiving the extraction channel of the particle exported from the resonant cavity, the extraction channel includes a series of focal zone To focus the line of received particle, wherein at least one described focal zone includes being configured in the presence of magnetic field gradient Change the concentrating element of the shape of the background magnetic field, the magnetic field gradient is logical from the resonant cavity to drawing by background magnetic field What the reduction in road generated,

Wherein the concentrating element includes:

Ferromagnetic quadrupole, the ferromagnetic quadrupole changes magnetic field, so that the magnetic field is bent up in the side substantially opposite with background magnetic field It is bent；With

Magnetic field damper, the magnetic field damper absorbs the magnetic fluxes of surrounding, to change the shape in magnetic field,

Wherein by the ferromagnetic quadrupole and the magnetic field damper, thus by the shape of background magnetic field be changed to background magnetic Curved shape on the substantially opposite direction in field.

2. particle accelerator according to claim 1, wherein each ferromagnetic quadrupole has the cross-sectional shape of right-angled trapezium, Described trapezoidal with inclined surface, the ferromagnetic quadrupole one is positioned opposite on top of the other, so that the ferromagnetic quadrupole Inclined surface part it is facing with each other；And

Wherein the magnetic field damper is horizontally aligned close to the ferromagnetic quadrupole, so that the inclined surface pair of the ferromagnetic quadrupole Face to angle the wide surface of the magnetic field damper.

3. particle accelerator according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic field damper is rectangular slab, the magnetic field abatement Device is configured to the magnetic fluxes that surround of sucking, with help the ferromagnetic quadrupole by the background magnetic field change to background magnetic field Substantially curved shape on opposite direction.

4. particle accelerator according to claim 1, wherein the extraction channel includes that one or more fields increase member Part, one or more of increase elements include two magnetic field adders；And

Wherein, the magnetic field adder includes rectangular slab, and perpendicular alignmnet is simultaneously on top of the other for the magnetic field adder one It is parallel to each other, so that the wide surface of a magnetic field adder faces the wide surface of another magnetic field adder.

5. particle accelerator according to claim 1, wherein the extraction channel includes that one or more fields reduce member Part, one or more of reduction elements include magnetic field damper；And

Wherein, the magnetic field damper of one or more of reduction elements includes rectangular slab, one or more of reductions The magnetic field damper of element horizontal aligument and parallel to each other close to each other, so that the one of one or more of reduction elements The wide surface of a magnetic field damper is in face of the wide surface of another magnetic field damper of one or more of reduction elements.

6. particle accelerator according to claim 1, wherein the focal zone is arranged such that each focal zone With the line of about 1/6 the received particle of compression completely focused in axially or radially plane.

7. particle accelerator according to claim 1, wherein at least one described focal zone is to focus space, described Focusing space has magnetic field, and the magnetic field for focusing space has shape similar with the shape of the background magnetic field before change.

8. particle accelerator according to claim 7, wherein the sequence of the focal zone may be arranged such that focusing Element and focusing space are alternate with each other.

9. a kind of Proton therapy system, comprising:

Particle accelerator described in claim 1, wherein the particle includes proton；And

Particle accelerator rack mounted thereto, the rack are rotatable relative to patient position；

Wherein, proton is substantially immediately output to the position of patient from the particle accelerator.

10. particle accelerator according to claim 1, wherein the particle accelerator is variable energy particle accelerator, And the particle exported from the resonant cavity can have the energy in energy range；And

Wherein, the concentrating element is configured to provide the focusing in the energy range.

11. particle accelerator according to claim 1, wherein the particle accelerator is variable energy particle accelerator, And the particle exported from the resonant cavity can have the energy in energy range；And

Wherein, the concentrating element is configured to provide the focusing specific to the energy range.

12. particle accelerator according to claim 11 further includes being based on from the received particle energy phase of the resonant cavity One or more magnetic gaskets moveable for the concentrating element.

13. particle accelerator according to claim 11, wherein the concentrating element includes one or more coils, institute One or more coils are stated to pass through based on the electric current from the received particle energy of the resonant cavity.

14. a kind of particle accelerator, comprising:

Magnetic field is provided to the coil of resonant cavity, so that the resonant cavity has background magnetic field, the background magnetic field has shape, institute Stating background magnetic field is at least 6 teslas；

Particle source of the offer plasma column to the resonant cavity；

The voltage source that radio frequency (RF) voltage accelerates the particle from the plasma column to the resonant cavity, the magnetic are provided Field moves the particle accelerated from plasma column on resonant cavity inner orbit；And

Shell comprising the extraction channel for receiving the particle exported from the resonant cavity, the extraction channel includes a series of Focal zone to focus the line of received particle, wherein at least one described focal zone includes being configured in magnetic field ladder Change the concentrating element of the shape of the background magnetic field in the presence of degree, the magnetic field gradient is by background magnetic field from the resonance What the reduction of chamber to extraction channel generated,

Wherein, the concentrating element includes ferromagnetic quadrupole, and each ferromagnetic quadrupole has the cross-sectional shape of right-angled trapezium, described trapezoidal With inclined surface, the ferromagnetic quadrupole one is positioned opposite on top of the other, so that the nauropemeter of the ferromagnetic quadrupole Face is at least partly facing with each other, and the ferromagnetic quadrupole changes magnetic field, so that the magnetic field is substantially opposite with background magnetic field Side is bent upwards,

Wherein, the concentrating element further includes magnetic field damper, and the magnetic field damper absorbs the magnetic fluxes of surrounding, to change The shape in magnetic field, and

Wherein, by the ferromagnetic quadrupole and the magnetic field damper, thus by the shape of background magnetic field be changed to background Curved shape on the substantially opposite direction in magnetic field.

15. particle accelerator according to claim 10, wherein the magnetic field damper is horizontal close to the ferromagnetic quadrupole Ground alignment, so that the inclined surface of the ferromagnetic quadrupole diagonally faces the wide surface of the magnetic field damper.

16. a kind of particle accelerator, comprising:

For particle in the resonant cavity wherein accelerated, the resonant cavity has background magnetic field, and the background magnetic field has shape, the back Scape magnetic field is at least 4 teslas；And

For receiving the extraction channel of the particle exported from the resonant cavity, the extraction channel includes a series of focal zone To focus the line of received particle, wherein at least one described focal zone includes being configured in the presence of magnetic field gradient Change the concentrating element of the shape of the background magnetic field, the magnetic field gradient is logical from the resonant cavity to drawing by background magnetic field What the reduction in road generated,

Wherein the concentrating element includes:

Ferromagnetic quadrupole, the ferromagnetic quadrupole changes magnetic field, so that the magnetic field is bent up in the side substantially opposite with background magnetic field It is bent；With

Magnetic field damper, the magnetic field damper absorbs the magnetic fluxes of surrounding, to change the shape in magnetic field,

Wherein by the ferromagnetic quadrupole and the magnetic field damper, thus by the shape of background magnetic field be changed to background magnetic Curved shape on the substantially opposite direction in field.